Adam Friedman highlights a trio of games in Week 3 that feature starting QBs facing off fresh out of the transfer portal.
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ARIZONA STATE AT TEXAS STATE
When: 7:30 ET tonight (ESPN)
If you’re looking for a really fun college matchup to watch tonight, turn on the offensive duel between Arizona State and Texas State.
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham has led high-powered offenses in the past and now he has Michigan State transfer Sam Leavitt running the show. Leavitt, who has the ninth-highest offensive grade of any quarterback in the Big 12, has two passing and two rushing touchdowns on the year. After winning the starting job in the preseason, Leavitt and the Sun Devils sit at 2-0, an impressive turnaround after back-to-back 3-9 seasons.
For Texas State, this home game might be the biggest in program history. Head coach G.J. Kinne guided last year’s quarterback T.J. Finley through a prolific season that began with a head-turning win at Baylor. Kinne is hoping for more of the same magic with James Madison transfer Jordan McCloud leading the offense.
McCloud, who was the 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year, is on his fourth program in as many years but, with seven total touchdowns through two games, he is picking up where he left off last season.
With these two offensive-minded head coaches and two quarterbacks with a nose for the end zone, expect plenty of fireworks in San Marcos tonight.
OREGON AT OREGON STATE
When: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (FOX)
Every college football fan is happy to see this rivalry continue after conference realignment. Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel will lead the Ducks into Corvallis where Idaho transfer Gevani McCoy and the Beavers will be waiting.
Both teams are undefeated but Oregon has not yet played to its potential. Oregon State, which entered this season not really knowing what to expect, has strung together convincing wins over Idaho State and San Diego State.
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NOTRE DAME AT PURDUE
When: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (CBS)
Notre Dame and head coach Marcus Freeman got the wake-up call they weren’t hoping for last weekend when Northern Illinois pulled off the upset in South Bend. Now the Fighting Irish and Duke quarterback transfer Riley Leonard will travel to Purdue to take on Hudson Card and the Boilermakers.
Despite being the home team, Purdue is a double-digit underdog but Card, who transferred from Texas before last season, kicked off his 2024 campaign with a near perfect performance. Notre Dame doesn’t plan on allowing that to continue this weekend.
